Meat packaging machine



March 6, 1962 J. R. TANNEHILL ETAL 3,023,556

MEAT PACKAGING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 20, 1960 March 6,1962 J. R. TANNEHILL ETAL 3,023,556

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MEAT PACKAGING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 20, 1960 INVEA/Tole.Vdcr/7765 /Z Tanne/M Robe/"f E Mo of@ feO/@r/ck A. Zaen// 'BY Vf AT To RNE Y March 6, 1962 1. R. TANNEHILL ETAL MEAT PACKAGING MACHINE Filed June20, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. cvme Tanne/W Rabe/ Moo/fe Eede/MK A.Zaren/WH Ri/m M ATTORNEY United States Patent Uce aezasss latented Mar.6, 1962 This invention relates to improvements in meat pack-agingmachines. The machine of the presen-t invention is, in certain respects,an improvement upon the machine, the subject matter of the applicationfor patent of James R. Tannehill and Robert D. Moore, Serial No.810,461, filed May l, 1959 and entitled Apparatus for Use in and Methodof Packaging Food Products and the Like.

The principal objects of this invention are,

First, to provide means for applying and supporting a strip of flexiblesheet material to a series of parallel slicing knives.

Second, to provide a machine which `automatically ex tends av strip offlexible material of correct length for successive operations as eachpackage or body of meat is divided and advanced with the `sheet pressedinto dividing rel-ation to the meat mass.

Third, to provide a packaging machine which will automatically conformthe strip or length of exible sheet product separating material to thesurfaces of a plurality of parallel dividing knives, then thrusting theknives With the sheet thereon into the product being sliced, retractingthe knives leaving the sheet in dividing relation to the product, andthen yadvancing the divided package for a successive operation on `asimilar packaged product.

Fourth, to provide a plurality of parallel meat dividing knives with acorresponding number of suction chambers separated by automaticallyactuated valves for successively drawing a sheet or strip of flexibledividing material into close conformity to the knives and the surfacesbetween them by means `of suction applied to the suction chambers insuccession.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from aconsideration of the following description and claims. The drawings, ofwhich there are three sheets, illustrate a highly practical `form of themachine of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the machine illustratedat the end of a packaging cycle.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary end elevational view o-f the machine.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary transverse vertical cross sectional view takenalong the plane of the line 3-3 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the control switches andmeat separating head as viewed from the plane of the line 4 4 in FIG. l.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view through the automaticvacuum valve taken along the plane of the line 5 5 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a schematic wiring `and piping diagram of the electric,pressure and vacuum circuits of the machine.

FIG.7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating structuraldetails of the slicing head member and the means for wrapping andsupporting the sheet material thereon as a preliminary step to theslicing actuation of the head member.

In 'the copending application identified above, there is disclosed andclaimed a machine and method for dividing a'mass of meat into aplurality of parallel blocks or masses of meat by pressing flexiblesheet material into the meat by a series of parallel knives reciprocatedinto the mass of meat. The present invention includes a machine mountedon a suitable framework designated generally by the numeral 1 andprovided with conveyor chains 2 and 3 trained in loops around drivingsprockets 4 and idler sprockets 5. r[he chains 2 and 3 carry meatpackage `supporting slats 6 `and spaced series of sheet stock supportingblocks 7 to advance the product to the right, as shown in FiG. 1. Adriving motor 8 operating through a gear box 9 is connected by the chain10 to an overrunning clutch 11 mounted on the drive shaft 12 of thedriving sprockets 4. The motor 8 and clutch 11 function to advance theconveyor chains as will lbe described, but the overrunning clutch 11permits advance of the chain independently of the motor during laportion of the cycle of the machine, as will be described.

Supported over an intermediate portion of the conveyor by uprightsupports 13 and a top panel 14 is a l cylinder 15 having Va reciprocablepiston rod 16 connected to the reciprocable cutter head 17. The cutterhead 17 includes a suction chamber 1S divided into a series ofsub-chambers by partitions 19. The partitions are provided withautomatic valves 20 which open successively `and automatically, as willbe described. Mounted on the underside of the chamber 3 and under thepartition plates 1S are a plurality of transversely extending meatslicing l or dividing knives 21 which `are approximately as Wide as themass of meat to be divided. Ports 22 provide communication between thesub-chambers of the vacuum chamber 18 and the spaces between theadjacent knives 21.

Supported over the conveyor at the front of the head 17 is a roll 23 offlexible separating material. Synthetic polyolein is a desirablematerial. The sheet 24 is trained over a guide roller 25 and carriedforwardly underneath the knives 21. A loading station varranged toreceive a iiberboard carton with a slab of meat therein of the desire-dthickness is indicated at 26 just behind the incoming sheet or web. Aflight plate 27 on the conveyor slats functions to advance the containerwith the product to e divided underneath the knives 21. Prior to entry0f the product under the knives the sheet 24 is supported in closeproximity tol the knives by a series of previously described blocks 7 asshown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

Positioned underneath the conveyor and ybetween the uprighs 13 is `ahorizontally disposed pressure actuated cylinder 28 having areciprocable piston rod 29 with a pawl 30 on its rear end. The pawl 30is engageable be-l hind a lug 3'1 on the center of the conveyor andfunctions to advance the conveyor independently of the motor 8 to`advance the new carton of meat from the loading station 26 tounderneath the knives 21. Reference may now e had to the circuit diagramin FIG. 6 in connection with FIG. 1. After the new ybox of meat isinserted in the loading station 26, the operator presses the manualswitch 32 to complete a circuit through the safety switch 33 and thesolenoid |34 of a valve 35 that activates the cylinder 28 to advance thepiston rod 29 `and the new carton of meat to underneath the knives 21.The safety switch 33 is held closed by a tappet 36 carried on ya bar 37reciprocated with the head 17 and is closed only in the raised positionof the head so that the conveyor and package of meat cannot be advanceduntil the knives are raised.

Advancing motion of the conveyor to position the product underneath theknives brings a tappet 38 on the chain 2 into contact with a safetyswitch 39 to close the switch and signal or condition the circuit forfurther operation of the machine. With the switch 39 closed and thecylinder 28 in its fully actuated position to locate the product underthe head 17, the operator closes the push 3 material had previously beenconformed to the knives 21 at the end of the preceding cycle as will bedescribed and that the sheet is held in the recesses between the knivesby suction in the head 17.

The initial downward movement of the head 17 and the switch bar 37carried thereby opens the switch 33 to deenergize the solenoid 34 andcut off the advancing pressure to the cylinder 28. Near the end of thedown stroke of the head 17 and the switch bar 37, a tappet 44 engagesand closes the switch 45 completing a circuit through the conductor 46and solenoid 47 to close the valve 48 and cut off the suction to thehead 17 and admit atmospheric pressure to the pipe 49. Continued andlfinal movement of the head and switch bar 37 downwardly causes a tappet50 to engage and close a switch 51 which completes a circuit from theconductor 46 to a conductor 52 and the solenoid valve 53 and conductor54 to close off the supply of fluid pressure to the top of the cylinder15 and admit pressure to the botto-m of the cylinder and immediatelystart the elevation of the head 17. In this condition the flexible sheet24 is pressed in folds transversely through the block of meat in thepackage and the knives are retracted from the folds of the sheet. At thecompletion of the upward stroke of the switch bar 37 a pivoted pawl 55momentarily strikes and closes a switch 56. The switch 56 is in serieswith and energized from a normally closed limit switch 57 through theconductor S and when closed energizes the conductor 59 and the solenoid69 of a relay switch. The energization of the solenoid 60 closes a firstswitch 61 that energizes the motor S to drive the conveyor through theoverrunning clutch 11 and simultaneously closes a switch 62 establishinga holding circuit from the switchV 57 through the conductor 63 andswitch 62 to the solenoid 60 so that the motor 8 continues to operateand advance the newly separated package of meat from underneath theraised head 17.

The package is advanced by the conveyor underneath a support 64 (seeFIG. 1) carrying a pressure actuated cylinder 6,5 over or above theconveyor. The cylinder 65 h-as a reciprocable piston rod 66 carrying adownwardly facing cutter 67 which may be a` knife blade as illustratedor a heated wire or other element for severing the web 24. It will beappreciated that the advancing motion of the package draws the web 24forwardly to position -a new length of the material underneath theraised separating knives 21.

As the newly separated package advances beneath the cutoff elements 67to the position shown at 68 in FIG. 1 a lug or tappet 69 on the chain 3positioned on the far side of the conveyor in FIG. 1 and to the right inFIG. 3 engages -and opens the previously described normally closed limitswitch 57. This result in breaking the holding circuit through theconductor 63 to the solenoid 60 and deenergize the motor 8. The conveyoris thereby stopped at the proper position just beyond the cutoff element67. The chain 3 also carries a tappet 70 (see FIGS. l and 3) whichengages and closes a switch 71 when the package of meat is advanced tocutoff position. Closing of the switch 71 completes a circuit throughthe conductor 72 and solenoid 73 to the conductor 43 to open the valve74 and admit fluid pressure to the top of the cylinder 65. This startsthe piston rod 66 and cutoff elements 67 downwardly. The cutoff elementis moved across the web 24 stretched rearwardly from the rear end of thepackage and when the piston rod reaches its lower limit of travel atappet 75 engages and closes the switch 76. The switch 76 is in serieswith the conductor 72 through the solenoid 77 to reverse the position ofthe valve 74 and open the valve 78 admitting pressure to the lower endof the cylinder 65 to immediately start the upward retracting motion ofthe cutoff element 67. As the cutoff element and piston rod 66 reachtheir upper limit of travel, a tappet 79 strikes and closes a switch 80connected in series with the conductor 81 and solenoid 82 to shift the4- suction or partial vacuum valve 48 to the position illustrated inFIG. 6 and connect to the suction or vacuum means head 17.

The action of the suction or vacuum in the head 17 takes place after theextended end of the film 24 has been severed by the cutoff element 67and after a series of theV support blocks 7 have been moved underneaththe raised knives 21 to support the sheet closely adjacent the loweredges of the knives. The conduit 49 opens to the tirst subdivision inthe suction head 17 between the first and second knives at the left endof the head as viewed in FIG. l. The valve 83 of the valve assembly 20opening through the second partition plate 19 is subjected to thissuction but is held closed by a spring 84 (see FIG. 5) acting on thestern 85 of the valve. The action of the suction is thus constrainedthrough the ports 22 between the first two knives with the result thatthe film 24 is drawn up snugly around and between the first two knives.The free end of the web 24 moves freely across the blocks 7 to providethe necessary length of film. As the web rises between the first twoknives, it seals off the ports 22 thus increasing the intensity of thevacuum or suction kin the rst sub-chamber 18 to the point where itovercomes the action of the spring 84 biasing the valve 83 closed. Theiirst valve 83 then opens against its biasing force and the suction orvacuum action is repeated in the second sub-chamber to draw the webupwardly between the second and third knives. This action of drawing theweb fully and tightly between each adjacent pair of knives progressessuccessively to the right until all of the knives are closely wrappedwith the flexible lrn and the machine is in condition to perform -asucceeding cycle.

The cycle of 'the machine starting from a condition with the web wrappedaround the knives calls for loading of a new package of the product intothe loading station 26 and starting of the pressure cylinder 28 by meansof the push button 32. When the new package is underneath the knives 21,the push button 40 starts the separating head 17 and knives downwardly,after which the action of the machine is automatic to raise the head,advance the package past the cutoff element while pulling in a newlength of the separating web 24. The action of the cutoff element 67 isautomatically accomplished, as is the cutting off of the vacuum topermit free retraction of the knives from the treated product and thereestablishment of the suction to draw the new length of websuccessivelyaround all of the knives. During the time in which the machine isautomatically separating one product and advancing and cutting off theseparating web, the attendant may be preparing a succeeding package forintroduction into the load station 26.

We have illustrated and described one highly practical embodiment of ourinvention. We have not illustrated or described other embodiments oradaptations, as We believe the embodiment illustrated and described willenable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt our invention as maybe desired to meet varying use` conditions.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a lmachine for separating a mass product into parallel adjacentstrips with flexible sheet separating ma* terial folded between adjacentstrips and across the upper sides of the strips, a conveyor arranged tosupport and advance said mass product from a loading station through aseparating station to a cutoff station for the sheet, a reciprocablehead positioned over said separating station and having a series ofseparating blades on its lower face, means forming a sub-divided suctionchamber in said head with sub-divisions communicating with the spacebetween each pair of adjacent blades, a suction connection opening tothe sub-division between the first two blades, valves positioned betweenthe sub-divisions to open toward said suction connection and affordingcommunication between adjacent sub-divisions and biased by springstoward closed position, support means arranged to support a supply rollof the flexible sheet material and direct the end thereof underneathsaid blades from the rear end thereof relative to the advancing motionof said conveyor, a first drive element consisting of a reciprocablepiston rod arranged to advance said conveyor from said loading stationto underneath said head, a second drive element having an overrunningconnection to said conveyor, a cutoff element positioned to sever saidsheet at the rear edge of said separating station, automatic controlmeans connected upon initiation of downward motion of said head tosuccessively disconnect said suction connection, elevate said head atthe completion of its downward motion, energize said second driveelement to advance said conveyor from said head to cutoff position, stopsaid second drive element, reciprocate said cutoff element, reconnectsaid suction connection and retract said first drive element, firstmanual control means connected to advance said first drive element, andother manual control means connected to initiate downward move ment ofsaid head, said last control means including a safety switch closed bymovement of said mass product to said separating station, said firstmanual control means including a second safety switch closed by movementof said head to raised position.

2. In a machine for separating a mass product into parallel adjacentstrips with sheet separating material folded between adjacent strips andacross the upper sides of the strips, a conveyor arranged to support andadvance said mass from a loading station through a separating station toa cutoff station for the sheet, a reciprocable head positioned over saidseparating station and having a series of blades on its lower face,means forming a subdivided suction chamber in said head withsub-divisions communicating with the space between each pair of adjacentblades, a suction connection opening to the subdivision between thefirst two blades, valves positioned between the sub-divisions to opentoward said suction connection and affording communication betweenadjacent sub-divisions and yieldingly biased toward closed position,support means arranged to support a supply roll of a fiexible sheet anddirect the end thereof underneath said blades from the rear end thereofrelative to the advancing motion of said conveyor, a first drive elementconsisting of a reciprocable piston rod arranged to advance saidconveyor from said loading station to underneath said head, a seconddrive element having an overrunning connection to said conveyor, acutoff element positioned to sever said sheet at the rear edge of saidcutoff station, and automatic control means connected upon initiation ofdownward motion of said head to successively disconnect said suctionconnection, elevate said head at the completion of its downward motion,energize said second drive element to advance said conveyor from saidhead to cutoff position, stop said second drive element, reciprocatesaid cutoff element, reconnect said suction connection and retract saidfirst drive element.

3. In a machine for separating a mass product into parallel strips witha sheet of separating material folded between adjacent strips and acrossthe upper sides of the strips, a conveyor arranged to support andadvance said mass from a loading station through a separating station toa cutoff station for the sheet, a reciprocable head positioned over saidseparating station and having a series of blades on its lower face,means forming a sub-divided suction chamber in said head withsub-divisions communicating with the space between each pair of adjacentblades, a suction connection opening to the sub-division between thefirst two blades, valves positioned between the sub-divisions to opentoward said suction connection and affording communication betweenadjacent sub-divisions and biased toward closed position, support meansarranged to support a supply roll of a sheet material and direct the endof the material underneath said blades from the rear end thereofrelative to the advancing motion of said conveyor, drive means arrangedto advance said conveyor, a cutoff element positioned to sever saidsheet material at the rear edge of said cutoff station, and automaticcontrol means connected upon initiation of downward motion of said headto successively disconnect said suction connection, elevate said head atthe completion of its downward motion, advance said conveyor from saidhead to cutoff position, stop said conveyor, reciprocate said cutoffelement, and reconnect said suction connection, said cutoff stationbeing advanced Vbeyond said head by a distance equal to the length ofsheet necessary to lap the surfaces of said knives and the surfacestherebetween.

4. In a machine for separating a mass of material into strips withseparating sheet material folded between adjacent strips and across theupper sides of the strips, a conveyor arranged to support and advancesaid mass through a separating station to a cutoff station for thesheet, a reciprocable head positioned over said separating station andhaving a series of blades on its lower face, means forming a sub-dividedsuction chamber on said head with sub-divisions communicating with thespace between each pair of adjacent blades, a suction connection openingto the sub-division between two blades, valves positioned and openingbetween said sub-divisions to open toward said suction connection andbiased toward closed position, support means arranged on said conveyorbetween the mass supporting portions thereof to support a sheet ofseparating material adjacent the lower edges of` said blades, a supportfor a supply roll of the iiexible sheet material arranged to direct thesheet underneath said blades from the rear end thereof relative to theadvancing motion of said conveyor, drive means arranged to advance saidconveyor, a cutoff element positioned to sever said `sheet: at the rearedge of said cutoff station, and control means connected to initiatedownward motion of said head, disconnect said suction connection,elevate said head at the completion of its downward motion, advance saidconveyor from said head to cutoff position, reciprocate said cutoffelement, and reconnect said suction connection, said cutoff stationbeing advanced beyond said head by a distance as great as the length ofsheet necessary to lap the surfaces of said blades andthe surfacestherebetween.

5. In a machine for separating a mass of `material into strips withsheet material folded Abetween adjacent strips and across the uppersides of the strips, a conveyor arranged to support and advance saidmass through a separating station to a cutoff stationA for the sheet, areciprocable head positioned over said separating station and having aseries of blades on its lower face, means forming a sub-divided suctionchamber on said head with sub-divisions communicating with the spacebetween each pair of adjacent blades, a suction connection opening tothe sub-division between two blades, valves positioned and opening`between the said sub-divisions to open toward said suction connectionand biased toward closed position, support means arranged on saidconveyor between the mass supporting portions thereof to support a sheetof separating material adjacent the lower edges of said blades, asupport for a supply roll of said material arranged to direct thematerial underneath said blades from the rear end thereof relative tothe advancing mo tion of said conveyor, drive means arranged to advancesaid conveyor, a cutoff element positioned to sever said sheet at therear edge of said cutoff station, and control means connected toinitiate downward motion of said head, disconnect said suctionconnection, elevate said head at the completion of its downward motion,advance said conveyor from said head to cutoff position, reciprocatesaid cutoff element, and reconnect said suction connection.

6. In a machine for separating a mass of material into strips withseparating sheet material folded between adjacent strips and across theupper sides of the strips,

means arranged to support and advance said mas-s through a separatingstation to a cutoif station for the sheet material, a reciprocable headpositioned over said separating station and having a series of blades onits lower face, means forming a sub-divided suction chamber on said headwith sub-divisions communicating with the space between each pair ofadjacent blades, a suction connection opening to the subdivision betweentwo blades, valves positioned and opening between the said sub-divisionsto open toward said suction connection and biased toward closedposition, support means arranged to support a lm of separating materialadjacent the lower edges of said blades, a support for a supply roll ofthe sheet material arranged to direct it underneath said blades from therear thereof relative to the advancing motion of said support means,drive means arranged to advance said support means, a cutoff elementpositioned to sever said sheet at the rear edge of said cutoi station,and control means connected to initiate downward motion of said head,disconnect said suction connection, elevate said head at the completionof its downward motion, advance said means for supporting said mass fromsaid head to cutoff position, reciprocate said cutoff element, andreconnect said suction connection.

7. An apparatus of the class described comprising a work conveyor, meansfor driving said conveyor step by step, a chambered head member disposedabove and reciprocatingly mounted relative to said conveyor and in timedrelation to the actuation thereof, said head member having a pluralityof laterally extending and downwardly projecting parallel blades ofuniform width and spacing spaced longitudinally relative to saidconveyor, means for positioning a flexible sheet between said conveyorand head member and closely adjacent to the lower edges of the blades,the chamber of said head member having transverse partitions thereindisposed in vertical alignment with the blades and providing a series ofsuction chambers, said partitions having chamber connecting portstherein provided with suction opened spring seated valves, said headmember having inlet openings therein between said blades opening to saidsuction chambers, suction means connected to lthe first of said seriesof suction chambers, and means for actuating said sheet positioningmeans and suction control means in timed relation to each other and tosaid conveyor and head member actuating means.

8. An apparatus of the class described comprising a work conveyor, meansfor driving said conveyor step by step, a chambered head member disposedabove and reciprocatingly mounted relative to said conveyorand in timedrelation to the actuation thereof, said head member having a pluralityof laterally extending and downwardly projecting blades spacedlongitudinally relative to said conveyor, means for positioning a exiblesheet between said conveyor and head member, the chamber of said headmember having transverse partitions therein forming ad jacent suctionchambers, said partitions having chamber connecting ports thereinprovided with suction opened spring seated valves, said head memberhaving inlet openings therein between said blades opening to saidsuction chambers, suction controlled means connected to the rst of saidseries of suction chambers, and means for actuating said sheetpositioning means and suction control means in timed relation to eachother and to said conveyor and head member actuating means.

9. An apparatus of the class described comprising a work support, achambered head member mounted for reciprocating movement relative tosaid work support, said head member having a-plurality of laterallyspaced downwardly projecting parallel blades of uniform width andspacing, means for positioning a flexible sheet between said worksupport and head member and closely adjacent to the lower edges of theblades, the chamber of said head member having tranverse partitionstherein disposed in vertical alignment with the blades and providing aseries of suction chambers, said partitions having chamber connectingports therein provided with suction opened spring seated valves, saidhead member having inlet openings t0 said suction chambers disposedbetween said blades, suction means connected to the first of said seriesof suction chambers, and means for actuating said sheet positioningmeans and suction means in timed relation to each other.

l0. An apparatus of the class described comprising a work support, achambered head member mounted for reciprocating movement relative tosaid work support, said head member having a plurality of laterallyspaced downwardly projecting blades, means for positioning a tlexiblesheet between said Work support and head member, the chamber of saidhead member having transverse partitions therein providing a series ofsuction chambers, said partitions having chamber connecting portstherein provided with suction opened valves, said head member havinginlet openings to said suction chambers disposed between said blades,suction means connected to the first of said series of suction chambers,and means for actuating said sheet 4positioning means and suction meansin timed relation to each other.

ll. An apparatus of the class described comprising a work support, achambered head member mounted for reciprocating movement relative tosaid work support, said head member having a plurality of laterallyspaced downwardly projecting parallel blades of uniform width andspacing, said work support and head member being spaced when the headmember is in retracted position to receive the work and a ilexible sheetbetween the work and the blades on the head member, the chamber of saidhead member having transverse partitions therein disposed in verticalalignment with the blades and providing a series of suction chambers,said partitions having chamber connecting ports therein provided withsuction opened spring seated valves, said head member having inletopenings to said suction chambers disposed between said blades, andsuction means connected to the rst of said series of suction chambers.

l2. An apparatus of the class described comprising a work support, achambered head member mounted for reciprocating movement relative tosaid work support, said head member having a plurality of laterallyspaced downwardly projecting blades, said work support and head memberbeing spaced when the head member is in retracted position to receivethe work and a ilexible sheet between the work and the blades on thehead member, the chamber of said head member having transversepartitions therein providing a series of suction chambers, saidpartitions having chamber connecting ports therein provided with suctionopened valves, said head member having inlet openings to said suctionchambers disposed between said blades, and suction means connected tothe rst of said series of suction chambers.

13. An apparatus of the class described comprising a work support, ahead member mounted for reciprocating movement relative to said worksupport, said head meme ber having la plurality of laterally spaceddownwardly projecting parallel blades, said work support and head memberbeing spaced when the head member is in retracted position to receivethe Work and a flexible sheet Ibetween the Work and the blades on thehead member, said head member having a series of suction chambersthereon, inlet openings to said suction chambers disposed between saidblades, and suction means connected to said series of suction chambersfor producing suction therein successively whereby said sheet issuccessively Wrapped around said blades.

14. An apparatus of the class described comprising a work conveyor,means for driving said conveyor step by step, a head member disposedabove and reciprocatingly mounted relative to said conveyor and actuatedin timed relation Vto the actuation thereof, said head member having aplurality of laterally extending and downwardly projecting blades spacedlongitudinally relative to said conveyor, means for positioning aiieXible sheet between said conveyor and said head member operativelyassociated with said conveyor whereby a sheet is positioned -between thehead member and a piece of work on a work conveyor, said head memberhaving a series of suction chambers therein and having inlet openings tothe chambers disposed between the blades, suction means connected tosaid series of suction chambers for producing suction thereinsuccessively whereby the sheet is wrapped around 'the ybladessuccessively, and control means for said suction means having timedactuation with the actuation of said conveyor and said head member.

15. An apparatus of the class described comprising a work conveyor,means for driving said conveyor step by step, a head member disposedabove and reciprocatingly mounted relative to said conveyor and actuatedin timed relation to the actuation thereof, said head member having aplurality of laterally extending and downwardly projecting blades spacedlongitudinally relative to said conveyor, said head member having aseries of suction chambers therein and having inlet openings to thechambers disposed between the blades, suction means connected to saidseries of suction chambers for lproducing suction therein successivelywhereby the sheet is wrapped around the blades successively, and controlmeans for said suction means having timed actuation with the actuationof said conveyor and said head member.

16. An appara-tus of the class described comprising a Work conveyor,means for driving said conveyor step by step, a head member disposedabove and reciprocatingly mounted relative to said conveyor in timedrelation to the actuation thereof, said head member having a pluralityof laterally extending and downwardly projecting blades spacedlongitudinally relative to said conveyor, said head member having aseries of suction chambers therein and inlet openings to the chambersdisposed between the blades, Asuction means connected to said series ofsuction chambers for producing suction therein successively whereby aIsheet positioned between the work successively on the conveyor and saidhead member is wrapped around .the blades, and control means for saidsuction means having timed actuation with the actuation of said conveyorand said head member.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,387,805 Roberts Aug. 16, l1921

